Still owneth not yon anime characters. Still just bending them to my nefarious purposes

What do you see? Part II

"The seal has been forced back into itself." Hinata's voice was calm; she was simply relaying what she saw, not interpreting it. Her hands were warm against his back, and the gaze of the Hokage was cool.

"So Hinata was essentially correct. Your mind has rejected Orochimaru, and so now your body is trying to do the same thing. Excellent. And Hinata, you're sure nothing tried to happen when you tried putting chakra into the seal." At the girl's nod, Tsunade sighed. "So we set all this up for nothing. Oh well, after all that effort, I need a drink. You two can celebrate or whatever... well Hinata can't yet… but later. Ja."

Sasuke slowly put his shirt back on. That was all. A quick examination, and now I have to return to my empty house, go past those blank stares, back to a hollow existence. I know there's nothing here for me but to get stronger, so that I can fulfill my vow. But after I kill that man… I'll be the strongest… but he is also strong, and he is… evil. I thought Orochimaru was strong, I knew he was evil… Neither of these is the Uchiha way. There has to be something more, right? Sasuke emerged from his reverie to find Hinata politely waiting at the door, allowing him his thoughts, but wondering if he was planning on staying the night in the cold little room. He sighed and walked out, slowing enough to match her pace when she finished locking up the room. And then… he was free to do whatever he pleased.

If the people around him wondered where he'd been they did an excellent job of ignoring his absence and lapsing back into the way they'd treated him those five years ago. He was sipping his tea when he recognized the voices that had entered the restaurant. Haruno Sakura, and Hyuuga Hinata. They must have both just gotten off duty. He stayed in his seat, letting his tea cool.

"So Sasuke-kun is perfectly fine?" Sakura's voice still held that note of blind hope.

"Hai. He was released from the hospital today. Tsunade-sama healed all his physical wounds. So of course he's alright." Her voice was quiet, discretion tinting her words, even with a fellow medic.

"And you? What did you see? Tsunade needed you because of the Byakugan, right?"

Hinata tried desperately hard not to stiffen. Sakura had meant well, but the way she'd worded that had cut.

"H-hai. I was only to check. He shouldn't have any trouble with it now."

Sakura chattered on. Hinata let her. Sasuke stopped paying attention; Sakura was only singing his praises.

"Hinata, are you listening at all?" Sakura paused.

"Hai, you were saying how strong Sasuke-san is, and how his determination inspires you." Hinata sipped her tea.

"Y-yes. So what about you? How come you never joined the fan club? What don't you see in him?"

Hinata's voice became even softer. "I see some of the same things you do, Sakura-san. I see his strength, and his determination. But I also see strength and determination in Naruto-kun, Lee-san, Neji-niisan, Ten Ten, Ino, Shino-kun, Kiba-kun, Shikamaru, Chouji-san and you, Sakura-san. When I look at Uchiha Sasuke, I see something different, I suppose. I see the number one rookie of our class like you, but he is still part of the rookie nine, isn't he? He's a Konoha ninja again, and unless he and I somehow become close friends, a Konoha ninja, one of many strong Konoha ninja, one who graduated with me, Uchiha Sasuke is all he will be to me."

Sakura looked at Hinata, who was pouring the two of them another cup. "So you're another one who thinks I don't know the real Sasuke?"

"No, I'm the one who doesn't know Uchiha Sasuke; therefore I can not be the one who judges. You were part of his team; you were there with him while he was still here. If anyone can see the real Uchiha Sasuke, it should be you and Naruto-kun and Kakashi-sensei. You and I see someone different when we look at Sasuke-san. So how can you ask me if I think you know someone I don't? There is no way I can acknowledge him the same way you do, so I won't."

"I-I guess that makes sense. Thanks for answering me Hinata."

There was a soft giggle. "This is how you take your revenge because I got to see him shirtless before you did?"

Sakura laughed too. "Well come on, four years have passed. Can you blame me?"

The two of them had left after that, Hinata to train with her genin team, Sakura to go home. Sasuke stared at the faint wisps of steam still rising from his cup. They were almost invisible. So Hinata thought she didn't know him. Maybe not as a friend, not as Sasuke-kun, not as Sasuke-san; but she understood what kind of person he was. He knew what she knew, she was just better at explaining it. She understood that Uchiha Sasuke was just Uchiha Sasuke, a Konoha ninja, the only Uchiha in Konohagakure, one of the rookie nine. She saw the same strengths everyone else did, but like few other people, she also saw the weaknesses he saw in himself. He was strong true, but he wasn't the only one with that strength. He only wished he was.

She saw that.